# Introduction

The Star Atlas Governance system empowers the community to help shape the future of Star Atlas through a structured, democratic process. Key to this process are POLIS Improvement Proposals (PIPs), which are suggestions for new ideas, improvements, or changes in the Star Atlas ecosystem that any member can propose. These proposals undergo a structured review and voting process to ensure they align with the community's best interests.

## Governance Participation

To participate in governance, community members lock their POLIS tokens in exchange for POLIS Voting Power, or PVP. This PVP allows members to vote on proposals and have a meaningful say in important decisions. The amount of PVP a member receives depends on the length of time they commit to locking their POLIS tokens, with longer lock times resulting in more PVP and, therefore, greater voting influence.

For more on how locking your POLIS tokens works and what it means for voting power, please refer to the [POLIS Voting Power](polis-voting-power) section.

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## The Lifecycle of a POLIS Improvement Proposal (PIP)

The PIP lifecycle is a step-by-step process guiding each proposal from an idea to implementation. Every PIP begins as a community-driven suggestion and is refined with feedback before being reviewed by the Star Atlas Council, an elected group that ensures each PIP aligns with the DAO’s values and standards. Once reviewed, proposals go to the Star Atlas Foundation for final checks and are then voted on by the community.

To learn more about each stage in the PIP process, check out the [Legislative Process](the-legislative-process) section.

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## The Role of the Council and the Foundation

Within governance, the [Star Atlas Council](../overview/our-structure/council) plays a crucial role by carefully reviewing proposals and offering feedback to authors, ensuring each proposal is practical, legally sound, and beneficial to Star Atlas. The [Star Atlas Foundation](../overview/our-structure/foundation) supports the DAO by handling legal steps and real-world actions, as well as implementing approved PIPs in the broader Star Atlas ecosystem.
